Dalbeattie Star finally ended their long wait for a Lowland League win on Saturday.

Darren Kerr’s team saw off Vale of Leithen 3-2 to register their first away win of the season and their first on league business since the end of August.

Although they’re still second bottom, the victory has pulled them much closer to the teams above.

Kerr said: “There was a bit of relief at full-time to get the win and it was important too. If we’d lost then we’d have been seven points behind Vale of Leithen but now we’re a point behind and have a couple of games to set us up for some massive games in December.

“Morale has been good, I think it has been different players in different games that have been making the mistakes costing their team-mates the points.”

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Star fell behind in strange circumstances on Saturday. keeper Vinnie Parker slipping when he had the ball at his feet and Kerr Allan pounced. His shot hit the post but fell kindly for Ainslie Hunter to score.

But Star rallied immediately and were soon back level. Lewis Todd’s cross found Dean Brotherston and, although his shot was blocked, Tommy Muir pounced to slot home the rebound.

And just before the break Star were in front, Farrell O’Sullivan crossing for Brotherston to smash a shot past home keeper Ross Gilpin.

The former Queen of the South man scored again early in the second half, Muir crossing for Brotherston to score his second and Star’s third.

The same player hit the post as he searched for his hat-trick and a killer fourth but Star were unable to relax, especially in stoppage time when Scott Milligan gave away a penalty and Allan scored from the spot.

Fortunately, it had little effect as Star ended a six game winless run in the Lowland League.

Kerr said: “It was well deserved. For a few weeks, barring one or two games where we haven’t performed as we should, we haven’t been getting the points we’ve deserved.

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“I thought ‘Here we go again” for the first goal as Vinnie slipped and they scored but we were back level within two minutes and after that we just took off.

“They weren’t good conditions on Saturday so we played a different game and went a bit more direct. We had Farrell O’Sullivan and Jamie McHarrie back in and we told them to get balls in and it worked as they were able to do that and the strikers got the goals.

“It could have been more comfortable as Dean Brotherston could have had has hat-trick and 3-2 flatters them a wee bit as in the 93rd minute Scott has stuck out a tired leg and given away a penalty.

“Tommy Muir got a goal the week before and another on Saturday and his confidence is back. I thought he was the best player on Saturday.”

Star are looking for another good result against Spartans on Saturday. (Image: www.dalbeattiestar.co.uk)

Star were without a number of players at the weekend, including Grant Parker, Liam Park and Curtiss Wilson, and will have to make do without Ritchie Maxwell for Saturday’s game against Spartans.

The former skipper retired at the end of last season but has played in the last few games to help the team out, captaining the side on Saturday. However, that is the end of his comeback.

Kerr said: “Spartans have lost their last couple of games, although one was in the Scottish Cup, so they’ll be looking to get points to keep in with East Kilbride and BSC Glasgow.

“We know we can compete with them because we went up there and gave a good account of ourselves earlier in the season, only losing 3-2 with the last kick of the ball.